The Under/Over Qualified debate

It's no big surprise that landing a job these days is tough. Recent graduates have it harder than they did 15, 10 even just 5 years ago. But we do what we can. We try our best and hope that it lands us some where relatively close to where we would like to be.

I feel that in many ways I have done everything by the book. Graduated high school, went to college, held a few internships while I was there, started building connections, graduated in ALMOST 4 years, got a job (in the industry I wanted to), worked steadily for over a year, moved out to my own place, and just as things were going up... I got fired, was unemployed for 2 months, got a job (see previous post about working for $10/hr), and am now frantically trying to get back to the momentum I was at before.

My frustration comes in the job searching I've been doing. I've been told within 2 weeks that I was either under qualified at one interview and over qualified at another. What am I supposed to do with that information?

It's upsetting when you are told that you lack the skills necessary to be qualified for a job, but at least then you know where you need improvement.

However being told you are over qualified for a job is a whole new level of hurt. So you're telling me that I possess all of the skills necessary for this job, and then some, but you aren't going to hire me because you think I might get bored? On one hand I supposed I understand where they are coming from, but I am now at a loss, and it doesn't change the fact that I didn't get the job.

Do i need to dub myself down or play myself up? How do I know when to do what? What the heck do you do after hearing something like that? Like I said this is a new level of frustration that I am not prepared to deal with.

I suppose the only solution is to just keep going and to once again apply for everything under the sun. At the moment I am no better off, but at the same time i am no worse. I'm stuck in a lateral job, but at least I have one.

It's tough to remain optimistic and still want to try, but I must. We as a generation must, because that is all there is. We cannot give up, give in and simply be content with what we have been handed at the moment. We are a generation of dreamers, thinkers and over achievers, and I don't think it's out of line to expect the working world to, someday, accommodate us.

I can't help but think that my recent experiences are such perfect metaphors for the world we live in: over qualified and under qualified at the same time. Plenty of experience but just not good enough.

It's not about having the most experience, it's about having the right kind... and it's not EVEN about having the right kind... it's about being exactly what someone is looking for at EXACTLY the right moment. And I guess it's my job (our job) to keep striving for that "AHA" moment. Keep searching, never stop working...

Please excuse me while I go cry for a minute, because when I'm done I'm going to take over the world.